Construction of boats and ships.



W. H. FAUBER. CONSTRUCTION OF BOATS AND SHIPS.

APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 13, 1909. I

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

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ZUQZZZ'Z Qzilzwzrbzzg er (3 62 6 QM APPLICATION FILED BBPTIIB, 1909.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

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W. H. FAUBER.

CONSTRUCTION OF BOATS AND SHIPS.

APPLIOATION II-LED SEPT. 13, 1909.

v1,024;,682, Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

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WILLIAM HENRY FAUIBE'R, OF NANTERRE,'FRA1\TCE.

CONSTRUCTION OF BOATS AND SHIPS.

Application filed September 13, 1909. Serial No. 517,480. v I

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY FAU- BER, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 95 Boulevard de laSeine, Nanterre, Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to the Construction of Boats and Ships, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to improvements in that class of boats or ships which are provided with hydroplane or downwardly and rearwardly inclined surfaces acting on' the water in the advance of the vessel to lift the same and lessen the submerged area of the hull, and it has for its object to make such vessels more efficient, both as regards their speed in proportion to propelling power employed 'as well as with regard to their action in high seas or rough water.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims. i i

In order that the main features and details of construction of a boat embodying my invention may be more clearly understood, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the forward part of the ship constructed according to 'my invention. Fig. 1 is a like view of the rear part. thereof. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the forward part'of the ship. Fig. 2 is a bottomview of the rear part'of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross section, taken on the-line 3-3 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3" is a cross section of the bottom of the ship, showing'a modified form of the hydroplane members. Fig. i is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows diagrammatical cross sections of the several hydroplane members, as shown' 1n F1gs.'1 and 2. Fig. 5 shows diagram matical cross sections of a modified arrangement 'of the several hydroplane members. Flgs. 6 and 7 represent, 'onan enlarged scale, transverse sections of two modified forms of the grooves provided on the sides of the hull of the vessel. Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating the provision of steps or offsets on a hydroplane member, and Fig.' 9 a detail showing inhorizontal section a part of'thehull with one of the air-collecting cowls in plan vlew.

In a boator-ship embodying my invention, provide, as will" be seen from-the Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented A r. 30,1912.

drawings, the bottom 6. of the hull a with a plurality of hydroplanes, each consisting of two hydroplane members arranged at opposite sides of the center line of the bottom; the construction being such that said bottom is provided at each side of its center or keel line with a plurality of hydro lane members or surfaces 6 b b b .6 ,-b 6 which are connected with one another by upright, rearwardly facing surfaces or shoulders so as to constitute the bottom of the vessel and giveja stepped form to said bottom. Said hydroplane members may be provided in any convenient number- These hyd roplane members have generally the form described and illustrated in my United States'application, Serial N 0Q452A56, filed September 10th, 1908, their surfaces having a downward and rear-Ward inclination and a lateral and downward inclination from" their lateral or outer margins, where they intersect the sides of the hull, toward the centeror keel line'of the hull; but in the present construction the angle of rearward inclination of each member at the center or keel line is different from and by preference smaller than at the lateral or outer edges thereof, so that at the rear 'end of each hydroplane member, as will best be: seen from Fig. 3 of the drawings, the shoulder at-each outside margin is deeper a's'indicated at n than the shoulder at the center or keel line, as indicated at 0. The result of this construction is a gain in lateral stability, owing to the fact that by thisconstruction the supporting power of the hydroplanesurfa'ces is made greater at the sidesthan' in the center of the hull; but it will be understood that there may beno shoulder at all at the keel line, as is shown for example in F ig. 3 or, in other words, the keel line may be continuous 'or straight. However, I consider it preferable to have a certain depth of shoulder at the keel line adjacent to the rear end of each hydroplane-member, to permit the entrance of air, and thereby to reduce the. area subject to friction. It is further obvious that the height or depth of the shoulder at therear end of each hydroplane member may bel-the same from its outer margin n inwardtowardthe keel, or in-' stead of graduallydecreasin the depth-0f said shoulder from 'n towar the keel ;line,--

the depth of the shoulder may be uniform r from n inwardly to a certain point, and

from the latter be decreased toward the keel line. The said hydroplane members are, moreover, constructed so that, as can be seen from Fig. 5, the forward or front hydroplane presents in cross section oblique lateral faces arranged at an acute angle to each other and meeting at a sharp angle, so as to have a V form; the apex pointing downwardly and the sides being concave.

I construct the shoulders at the rear ends of the several hydroplane members of substantiallyuniform height or vertical width and as the lateral margins of the h. .,droplane members are, as usual, flush wit the sides of the hull, the width of said hydroplane members gradually increase from the bow toward the widest part of the boat. By reason of the tapered form of the forward part of the hull, the angle of lateral inclination of the bottom surfaces of the hydroplane members gradually decreases from the bow toward the stern so that the V shape of the same, in cross section, (as seen in Fig. 5), is gradually widened or flattened, whereby the advantages of a gradual displacement, as set forth in my above cited application, are obtained, together with the additional advantage that, by reason of the front or forward hydroplane member or members being made of a sharp V shape in cross-section, the pounding action on the water, particularly where rough water is encountered, is greatly diminished.

The shape of the lateral surfaces of the front or forward hydroplane members 6 is, moreover, such as to merge at the bow into a narrow or keel-lik portion 0, having substantially upright side faces, so as to provide for a center board effect, for the same purpose as set forth in my United States application, Serial No. 452,456, but with the additional advantage that the keel line heneath the bow of the vessel is brought lower so as to cut through and part the waves, and that the bow itself, which ordinarily tends to rise above the water when the boat is at high speed, presents a better appearance. In this construction the forward V-shaped hydroplanes are molded or blend with the walls of the keel-like forefoot in a manner to afford sufficient perpendicularly disposed.

lateral surfaces, to give the boat good steering control in rough water.

The depth of the hydroplane members at the keel line, or the vertical distance from the level of the-outer side margins of said members to their inner or lower margins at the keel line, is, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the same from the bow to the stern, but in the modified construction shown in Fig. 5, the said depth is made to gradually decrease from the bow toward the stern, so that the lateral inclination of the-members not only decreases from the bow to the widest part of the hull, by reason of th tapered form of the forward part of the hull, but is further decreased throughout the entire length of the hull, by making the V-shaped bottom of the hull increasingly shallower toward the stern. In the said Fig. 5, 1 represents the cross-section of the foremost hydroplane member and 6 represents the cross-section of the rearmost hydroplane member, the intermediate hydroplane members being represented by 1', b b 7), Z), 6, Z) and b By this construction a form of hull is secured which is particularly adapted for rough water, the more pronounced V form at the bow diminishing the pounding effect and at the same time providing the easy lines of displacement, which offer the least resistance at high speeds. This construction has the further advantage of giving greater vertical lifting or sustaining effect at the stern, where the load is usually greatest, at slow speeds, or when the load is carried part-ially or entirely by flotation. The extent to which the lateral inclination or depth of the hydroplane members is decreased at the keel line, from the" bow toward the stern, can be varied according to the kind of water in which the boatis to be used.

As will be seen from the drawings, the

sides a of the hull a at the rear portion of the same, are gradually narrowed horizontally toward the stern so as to meet at a sharp angle or vertical edge a at the stern, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Moreover, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the bottom part of the hull, on which is formed the rear hydroplane b", is continued in width equal to or exceeding the full width of the vessel nearly to the stern, so as to form laterally projecting, horizontal fins or extensions on the part of the hull which is tapered rearwardly to the stern. The additional width given to the bottom of the hull, and to the rear hydroplane members, by said lateral extensions, serves to give the necessary sustaining surface at the rear part of the boat, and in oder to make this construction wholly practical, I provide the said lateral extensions or fins which so project laterally from the narrower part of the hull above them, with rounded top surfaces affording a structure in the nature of a turtle back as indicated by the line cl in Fig. 4; the outside margin of the horizontally extending, wider rear part of the bottom being rounded, preferably in the form of a semi-circle, as indicated at f in Fig. 2 and having its rearmost end vertically in line with the vertical edge a of the stern.

. The keel line g of the rear end or extension 6 of the rear hydroplane beneath the stern may start flush, or nearly so, with the keel line of the hydroplane member 6 and then rise in a gradual curve to the rear, rounded margin f of the widened lower part of the hull. The rounded top surfaces d of the said lower part of the hull are made,

convex and curve downwardly and rearwardly with their outside edges terminating flush with the lateral edges of the rear hydroplane member and their rear margins giefiting the said rear curved margin f of The curvature of the dilferent surfaces at the stern of the vessel will be designed so as to be proportionate to the speed, and the conformation of thewarious parts constituting this portion of the vessel may, of course, vary according to circumstances.

In order that the vessel may have stability in rough water, it is so designed that the hydroplanes operate at considerabledepth, In for instance indicating the water line when the vessel is traveling at a certain speed.

The principal object of the improved construction described in the stern of the vessel is to provide gradually converging surfaces for the water to follow as it closes behind the stern, and to thereby obviate to a large extent the loss of power that would be caused by the absence of water pressure behind the stern of a fast traveling. hydroplane vessel of large size.

The boat illustrated is provided with a plurality of pairs of propellers 1), arranged; with the two propellers of each pair atopposite sides of the keel line, one pair of such propellers being located at the stern and two pairs beneath the hydroplanes at points between the bow and stern.

In connection with the construction described in the parts at the stern of the vessel, as a further improvement, I locate the tubes h for the propeller shafts of the two stern propellers, in such manner that the said shafts extend between the rear hydroplane member and the convex surface d above the same, and the tubes h extend rearwardly from the rear edge f of the widened lower part of the hull. The propellers are thus adapted to operate in water above and below the level of the rear margin f of the lateral extensions or fins, the tapered rear parts of which, (formed by the downwardly deflected top surfaces thereof) permit the water to reach thepropeller in a solid or unbroken condition both above and below the axis of the propeller. Moreover, the stern propellers, thus arranged, are so located that they are entirely above the level of the bottom line of the keel, thereby avoiding excessive draft, and danger 'of the propellers striking the bottom.

By locating the stern propellers as described, I am enabled to arrange the propeller shafts with only a slight downward inclination toward the rear, so as to afford a nearly horizontal thrust of the propellers against the water, and to avoid the resistance resulting whenthe shafts or their tubes extend downwardly below the hull at acon siderable angle to the same. a

As hereinbefore stated, two pairs of propellers p, p are located in advance of the stern propellers, beneath the hydroplane members. propellers not only affords a uniform distribution of power for propulsion, but also This location of the forward affords the advantage that by the backward tional engagement with the water, is toalarge extent prevented, while an increased backward thrust of the propellers on the water is obtained, with consequent increase of lifting effect and propelling power. The propellers located beneath the hydroplanesurfaces and forward of the stern of the vessel, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, are always submerged and the racing of such propellers, such as occurs in the case of stern propellers in rough seas, is thereby avoided. Moreover,-by the employment of a number of propellers distributed beneath the bottom of the boat, *propellers of smaller size may be used, and, in case of an accident to one propeller, only a small portion of the power would be lost.

In the case of the forward propellers shown, the propeller shafts iare arranged to project from the shoulders or offsets vof the hydroplane members, and the rear end of each shaft is j ournaled in a bearing bracket Z, of any convenient construction, attached as the hydroplane surfaces, while the offsets forward of the hydroplane surfaces afford convenient spaces within the hull for the turbines or engines, as indicated for mstance at r in Fig.1 of the drawings.

In vessels where use is made of hydroplanes for the purpose of increasing the speed, air tubes have been heretofore provided for the admission of air beneath "the hydroplane members. According to my invention, air tubes sare provided which open at their lower ends through the forward or elevated parts of the hydroplane members at the rear oftheshoulders or offsets, and which are extended upwardly to a point above the water-level when the boat is at rest, the upper ends of said tubes being turned outwardly and connected with air inlet openings .9 in the sides of the hull.' The forward movement of the hydroplane members in or over the water, tends to produce a vacuum at the rear of each shoulder or ofi set, whereby suction is produced in the said very large tubes are used, may be covered with a grating to improve the appearance, and a semi-circular deflector or cowl s is located in the rear of each opening 8 and projects from the side of the vessel, said cowlhaving its open side directed forwardly .and acting to collect and deliver air to the tubes 8, as indicated on an enlarged scale in Fig. 9 of the drawings. In seagoing vessels, this improvement is of considerable importance, inasmuch as the large tubes generally used for ventilating purposes and extending to the top or deck of the vessel and occupying a good deal of space, may in this manner be dispensed with.

Certain or a number of the tubes 8 may, in large vessels, for instance, be connected with the boiler room and other spaces in the vessel that it is desired to ventilategthe tubes so arranged acting. to draw foul air therefrom with the aid of the exhaust action of the hydroplane members. may also be used for. exhausting the smoke from the funnels of a vessel and discharging it beneath the bottom of the same. A construction of this kind will be of great advantage in the case of warships, in which it is often desirable to conceal the presence of the ship, which at long distance is at once traceable bythe smoke emitting from their funnels, and also in the case of liners or pas-. senger ships, the decks of which are often swept by smoke and cinders. I have shown in Fig. 3 a construction in which the air tubes 8 are connected on the one hand with the funnels a of the vessel, and on the other hand, with the boiler room 1;, by pipes s extending transversely through the-vessel from the openings 8 in the sides of the hull to the funnels u, and connected by branch pipes s with the boiler room '0, or other spaces or compartments. Suitable dampers 21. are provided in the funnels u, and similar dampers a are arranged in the various pipes for controlling the passage of air and smoke through the same. The sucking action produced by the hydroplane members,

when the vessel travels at high speed, may, moreover, be augmented by forcing the smoke and gases from the funnels through.

the pipes s by the use of blowers or by other mechanical means. Such gases and smoke, when thus delivered beneath the hydroplane surfaces, whether by suction alone, or by the use of blowers in addition thereto, will be The air tubes- To reduce the frictional resistance due to contact of the water with the sides of the vessel and other immersed surfaces of the hull, I provide in the outer surfaces of the sides of the hull grooves or air channels it extending in an up and down direction, and to reduce the friction between the water and the hydroplane surfaces, I provide grooves forming steps or offsets extending across the hydroplane surfaces, as shown at t in Fig. 8. The grooves 2. when provided in the sides of the hull, extend, in the example illustrated in Fig. 1, from the lateral margins of the hydroplane members upwardly, and are, by preference, forwardly and upwardly inclined, terminating above the water line, so as to allow the entrance of air thereto.

The grooves 25, as shown for instance in Figs. 6 and 7, are preferably shaped to provide transverse, rearwa-rdly facing shoulders at their forward sides, and are made shallow in depth as compared with their width. Said grooves are, moreover, preferably made of V-shape in cross-section, having their bottom surfaces inclined at a slight. angle to the side surface of the hull and merging into the same; it being intended that the dimensions of said grooves shall be so calculated with regard to the medium and maximum speeds that the water will not enter the grooves during the forward travel of the vessel.

In the forward travel of a vessel provided with such grooves, air is drawn into the upper ends of said grooves and escapes laterally therefrom between the sides of the hull and the water, whereby the frictional resistance between the water and the skin of the hull is reduced by the film of air entering between them, and also by the reduction of surface area due to the pressure of the grooves.

Fig. 7 represents a modification of the form of the grooves t shown in Fig. 6, the a difference being that the grooves according to Fig. '1 are substantially deeper, thereby offering a greater capacity for the supply of frictional contact with the water, also to collect the air mingled with the water and redistribute it in a film between the. hydroplane surfaces and the water. If desired these steps may be made to communicate with the grooves 6 arranged in the slides of the hull, or may be fed with air through suitable channels leading to the same from the air space 25 (Fig. 8), beneath the forward part of each hydroplane, or they may be connected by suitable passages or channels with the air tubes 5, through which air is supplied to the said air space.

, While I have shown in the accompanying drawings, and described in the foregoing specification, a preferred construction of parts embodying my improvements, yet it is to be understood that numerous changes or modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A hydroplane boat provided with a plurality of hydroplanes arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of its bottom, at least one of said hydroplanes consisting of two hydroplane members arrangedat opposite sides of the center line of the bottom and inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line; said hydroplane members having their angle of rearward inclination at said center line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outward la eral margins.

2. A hydroplane boat provided with a plurality of hydroplanes arranged in stepped relation and forming the flot ion surface of its bottom, at least one of aid hydroplanes consisting. of two hydroplane members arranged at opposite sides of the center line of the bottom and inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line; said hydroplane members being transversely concaved and having their angle of rearward inclination at'the center line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins.

3. A hydroplane boat provided with a plurality of hydroplanes arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of its bottom, the hydroplane adjacent to the bow of the boat consisting of two hydroplane members which are arranged at opposite sides of the center line of the bottom and forming hydroplane surfaces that are inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line and are extended to and intersect the sides of the hull at their outer lateral margins, so as to form angles at the bilge lines; the angle of rearward inclination of said hydroplane surfaces at the said outer lateral margins, lines, being greater than the angle of'rearward inclination thereof at the center or keel line; the bow of the boat being pro-' vided forward of the said hydroplane memhers with a narrow keel-like or at the bilge portion having uprlght lateral faces, and the transversely inclined surfaces of the hydroplane members gradually merging into the upright faces of said keel-like portion.

4. A hydroplane boat provided with two hydroplanes arranged one at the rear of the other and in stepped relation and having their bottom surfaces at their forward ends continuous with the flotation surface of the hull, said hydroplanes each consisting of two hydroplane members arranged at oppositesides of the center line of the bottom and inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line; the said hydroplane members of the 'rearmost hydroplane having a less degree of lateral inclination than the hydroplane members of the forward hydroplane.

5. A hydroplane boat provided with two hydroplanes arranged one at therear of the. other and in stepped relation, and having their bottom surfaces at their forward ends continuous withthe flotation surface of the hull; said hydroplanes each consisting of two hydroplane members, which are arranged at opposite sides of the center-line of the bottom, are inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line and are transversely concaved, and the said hydroplane members of the-rearmost hydroplane having a less degree of lateral inclination than the hydroplane members of the forward hydroplane.

6. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane'members arranged in'stepped relation andfforming the flotation surface of said bottom, said hydroplane members being inclined laterally and d nwardly toward the center line-and of gr dually decreasing inclination fromj the b w toward the stern of the boat; the b .the boat being provided with a narrow or keellikev portion having upright lateral faces and the forward hydroplane members having their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins at least as great as their angle of rearward inclination at the centersor keel-line, and the inclined surfaces of said forward hydroplane members gradually merging into the upright faces of said keel-like portion.

7. hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and formin the flotation surface of said bottom; said members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly toward said center line and have different rearward inclination at the said center line than at their outer side margins.

8. A hydroplane boat. provided at each side of the center line of lts bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom; said members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line; and have their angle of rearward inclination'at thesaid center line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins.

9. A hydroplane boat providedcat each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom, said members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line, are transversely concaved and have their angle of rearward inclination at the center or keel line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins.

10. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of Said bottom; said hydroplane members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined rearwardly and downwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line, are transversely concaved, have their angle of rearward inclination at the said center line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins, and also have their depth at the center or keel line decreasing from the bow toward the stern of the boat.

11. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming, the flotation surface of said bottom; said members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line; and have their angle of rearward inclinationat the said center line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins, the shoulders between the said hydroplane members being of uniform depth.

12. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom, said hydroplane members havinghydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line and have their angle of rearward inclination at the keel line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins,

the rearwardly facing shoulders between said hydroplane surfaces being of uniform depth.

13. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom; said hydroplane members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined rearwardly and downwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line and are of gradually decreasing depth at the keel line from the bow toward the stern of the boat.

14:. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom, said hydroplane members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined rearwardly and downwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line, have their angle of rearward inclination at the said center line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins and are of gradually decreasing lateral inclination from the bow toward the stern of the boat.

15. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom, said hydroplane members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward the center line, have their angle of rearward inclination at the said center line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins,

have their angle of rearward inclination at the center or keel line decreasing from the bow to the stern of the boat, and also have their depth at the keel line gradually de creasing from the bow toward the stern of the boat.

16. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped, relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom; said hydroplane members have hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line, have their angle of rearward inclination at the keel line less than their angle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins, and also have their lateral inclination gradually decreasing from the bow toward the stern of the boat, the rearwardly facing shoulders between said hydroplane surfaces being of uniform depth.

17. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom; said hydroplane members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center Line, are transversely concaved, have their angle of rearward inclination at the keel line less than their angle of rearward inclination. at their outer lateral margins, and also have their lateral inclination gradually decreasing fromthe bow toward the stern of'the boat, the rearwardly facing shoulders between said hydroplane members being of uniform depth.

18. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of-hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom; said hydroplane members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line and are transversely concaved, the bow of the boat being provided with a narrow or keel-like portion having upright lateral faces, and the forward hydroplane surfaces gradually merging into the upright lateral faces of said keel-like portiom 19. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the centerline of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom, said members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly andrearwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward said center line, the rear part of the hull being tapered toward the rear so as to meet at a sharp angleat the stern, and the rear hydroplane members and lower part of the hull at the rear part of the boat projecting laterally to substantially the full width of the hull so as to form lateral extensions, the top surfaces of which are curved outwardly and downwardly and meet the lateral and rear margins of the rear hydroplane surfaces.

20. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming-the flotation surface of said bottom, said members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and are also inclined laterally and inwardly toward said center line and are laterally concaved,

the sides of the 'hull being tapered rearwardly to a sharp angle at the stern, and the rear hydroplane members and the lower part of the hull at the rear part of the boat projecting laterally to substantially the full width of the hull so as to form horizontal, lateral extensions, the rear margins of said lateral extensions being substantially horizontal andtheir top surfaces beingcurved outwardly and downwardly to meet the outer lateral and rear margins of said rear hydroplane members, and the said. rear hydroplane members, at the keel line, being curved upwardly to meet the rear margins of the said lateral extensions. i

21. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation to form the flotation surface of said bottom, said members having hydroplane surfaces which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward the said center line, the part of the hull at the rear of the boat being tapered inwardly and meeting at a sharp edge or angle at the stern, the bottom part of the hull projecting laterally to substantially the full width of the hull to form'horizontal, lateral ,exterr sions, the upper'surfaces of which are inclined outwardly and downwardly to meet the outer lateral and rear margins of the rear hydroplane members, said boat having two stern propellers the shafts of which extend through the rear margins of said lateral extensions.

22. A hydroplane boat provided at each side of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom, said members having hydroplane surfaces which'are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and are also inclined laterally and downwardly toward the said center line, and are transversely concaved, said boat being provided with two stern propellers and also with two propellers located at opposite sides of the keel line beneath said hydroplane members and shafts on which said propellers are mounted, said propeller shafts being arranged to project through and rearwardly from the shoulders between the hydroplane members, and the rear ends of said shafts being above the level of the center or keel line of the boat. 23. A hydroplane boat provided at the opposite sides of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane mem bers arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom, with a furnace havinga smoke funnel with an air tube which opens at its lower end through the front part of one of the hydroplane members and is connected at itsupper endwith an air inlet .opening at the side of the hull, and with a tube connecting said air tube with the said funnel.

I 24. A hydroplane boat provided at the opposite sides of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom, with an air tube which opens at its lower end through the front part of one of the hydroplan'e members and is connected at its upper end with an air inlet opening in the side of the hull and a tube connecting said air tube with a compartment of the boat for the ventilation of the same.

25. A hydroplane boatprovided at the opposite sides of the center line of its bottom with a plurality of hydroplane members arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of said bottom, with a furnace provided with a smoke funnel, with an air tube which opens at its lower end through the front part of one of the hydroplane members and is connected at its upper end with an air inlet opening in the side of the hull, a tube connecting said air tube with the said funnel, and a tube connecting said air tube with a compartment of the boat for the ventilation of the same.

26. A liydroplane boat provided with a plurality of hydroplane members on its bottom, forming the flotation surface of the same, said boat having in the sides of its hull, open air channels extending in a direction from thelower to the upper margin of said sides.

27. A hydroplane boat provided with a plurality of hydroplane members at opposite sides of the center line of the bottom of the hull forming the flotation surface of the said bottom, said boat having in the sides of its hull open air channels extending in a direction from the lower to the upper margins of said sides, said channels having rearwardly facing shoulders at their forward sides and having their bottom sur faces merging into the side walls of the hull at their rear sides.

28. A hydroplane boat provided with a plurality of hydroplanes arranged in stepped relation and forming the flotation surface of its bottom, at least one of said hydroplanes being provided with a plural ity of steps extending transversely thereof. j 291A hydroplane boat provided with at least two hydroplanes arranged in stepped relation and having their bottom surfaces at their forward ends continuous with-the flotation surface of the portionof the hull forward of the same, at least one of said hydroplanes consisting of two hydroplane members arranged at opposite sides of the center line of the bottom and inclined laterallyvand downwardly toward said center line; .said hydroplane members having their angle of rearward inclination at said center line less than theirangle of rearward inclination at their outer lateral margins;

-VILLIAM HENRY FAUBER. Witnesses T BRANDON, Loors RINNY. 

